The French Data Protection Authority, the CNIL, has warned French counties and municipalities that they are not permitted to implement devices allowing automated licence plate recognition of vehicles in the region. These devices raise privacy concerns as they are linked to the use of CCTV, which reads and records the licence plates (and occupants) of all vehicles entering or leaving the region over an indeterminate period. The CNIL confirms that, in the absence of a specific regulatory act covering counties and municipalities, only the national police, gendarmerie and customs authorities are empowered by law to use licence plate recognition devices to prevent serious crime and protect public order.

CNIL article – August 2014